Verified Document

Revenge Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask Of Thesis

Revenge Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," Andre Dubus's "Killings," and Louise Eldrich's "Fleur" are all short stories about revenge. Although they treat the theme of revenge differently, the authors show that the exacting of revenge can indeed be a satisfying finale to a life consumed by tragedy. In each of these three short stories, revenge is depicted as an act that fulfills the protagonists' deepest need. Therefore, guilt does not enter into the minds of protagonists like Montresor, Matt Fowler, the narrator of "Fleur," or Fleur herself. Revenge is dealt with differently in each of these three short stories, but in all three, the main characters do not feel remorse. Their vengeful acts are somehow justifiable, both to themselves and also to the reader. In "The Cask of Amontillado," "Fleur," and "Killings," the three main characters do not feel any guilt because they have suitable reasons for revenge.

In Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," protagonist Montresor opens the short story with the simple statement, "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge." Montresor has been plotting his killing of Fortunato for an unmentioned amount of time, but enough that the protagonist devises a clever plot to lure Fortunato into his own grave. The setting of the story in the "damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors" is surely grave-like and suitable for the death of Fortunato. Although Montresor declines to offer readers a clear reason for his vengefulness, he...

It seems, based on Fortunato's symbolic name, that envy may be a key reason for why Montresor seeks to annihilate his opponent. Regardless, "The Cask of Amontillado" is the quintessential revenge tale because of Montresor's complete absence of guilt. In fact, Montresor himself claims that guilt impedes the entire purpose of revenge, let alone its satisfaction for the avenger. He states, "I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong."
Like Montresor, Matt Fowler of Dubus's "Killings" premeditates his revenge killing for an indefinite period of time and feels little guilt in exacting his vengeance. Matt Fowler is driven by a sense of justice that is far better articulated than that of Montresor, though. Richard Strout killed Matt's son, and it is for that crime that Matt needs to exact revenge. If any guilt is evident in "Killings," it is only in Matt's feeling that he somehow failed his son. After all, much of the short story is taken up by the background tale that leads up to the eventual revenge killing. Interestingly, the killing of Frank by Richard Strout was itself a revenge killing. Frank Fowler was dating Richard Strout's ex-wife. When Richard first begs for his life, he pleads with Matt to spare him based on this notion. It is as if one vengeful person knows another. Yet like Montresor, Matt…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Dubus, Andre. "Killings." Retrieved online: http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0102/dubus/excerpt.html

Erdrich, Louise. "Fleur."

Poe, Edgar Allen. "The Cask of Amontillado." Retrieved online: http://www.literature.org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/amontillado.html
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Edgar Allen Poes Story "The Cask Amontillado"
Words: 885 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Edgar Allen Poes story "The Cask Amontillado" You write, setting, theme story, point veiw, plt, language signifagace story. THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO Edgar Allan Poe (1846) THE thousand injuries Fortunato I borne I, ventured insult I vowed revenge. Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" - analysis Edgar Allen Poe's 1846 short story "The Cask of Amontillado" puts across an account involving a vindictive character who tries to reinforce his self-esteem by luring

Edgar Allen Poe Tale of Premeditated Murder
Words: 1236 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

Edgar Allen Poe tale of premeditated murder such as "The Cask of Amontillado," readers will immediately delight in the author's skill at suspense. Like wandering through darkened and ancient catacombs, reading "The Cask of Amontillado" stirs the imagination and maintains tension throughout its eerie passages. Deeper analysis lends insight into Poe's employment of various literary techniques to impart this sense of the tale being a campfire ghost story. Poe's

Poe Communicator Edgar Allan Poe's
Words: 1036 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Another Poe classic short story entitled the Tell Tale Heart also displayed his unique way of gaining the attention of the reader by use of dark and gloomy descriptions. This story is about going mad and losing one's mind. Poe may have really experienced this process as this story definitely takes a personal tone. The reader cannot help to feel the chaotic feelings that madness brings when grasping the Poe's

Edgar Allan Poe's Short Stories.
Words: 4034 Length: 11 Document Type: Term Paper

Their marriage and mutual love of animals makes this a situation that bespeaks long lasting happiness. One of the family pet is a black cat that is fairly large and the man's favorite. This cat is well liked, and unlike the disposition of cats that is aloof and independent, this cat follows his master wherever he goes, even out doors. The wife based on some superstitions has her misgivings

Poe Illuminating the Obvious: Dark
Words: 1015 Length: 3 Document Type: Thesis

The irony here is that the crime he failed to commit -- the killing of this cat -- led to the narrator's doom. The irony is heightened in "The Cask of Amontillado" because the entire time the narrator, who is looking back on the incident fifty years later, evinces no lack of confidence or surety until the very end, where his feelings of guilt become suddenly and drastically clear.

Cask of Amontillado
Words: 631 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allen Poe uses a number of elements to increase the shock value of the murder perpetrated by Montresor. The victim is Fortunato, whom Montresor attempts until the very end to convince of nothing but his own friendship and goodwill. There are several elements of setting and situation that aid Montresor in his intention to murder Fortunato. The shock value of this event is further enhanced

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now